Improvement in shears for marking cattle



S.D.BALDW1N.

SEEARS .FOR MARKIN@ GATTLE. Y

No. 47,785. Patented May 23, 18,@5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

siLAs I). BALDWIN, or cIIIcAeo, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEARS FOR MARKING CATTLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17785, daft-ed May 23, 1865.

Tao/.ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAs D. BALDWIN, of the cit-yof Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shears for Cutting, Marking, and Trimming Animals; and I do hereby declare that lthe followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a top view,with the shearblade I removed; Fig. 2, a reverse view; Fig. 3, va front view of the slotted plate; Fig. 4, the upper shear-blade; Fig. 5, a removable cutter or die; Fig. 6, a transverse section at the red lines w w.

Like letters refer to similarparts in all lof the figures. I

The nature of my invention consists in constructing shears forthe purpose of` cutting, trimming, or marking swine, sheep, and catv tle; inprovidingsuch shears with an adjustable shear bladev or cutter having a conicallyformed edge which passes through aslot so as to produce a shear or two-edged cut; -in beveling the inner side of a concave adjustable shear-blade so as to produce a sharp edge and also prevent cutting when sliding the shears into position; in providing the opposite arm of ,thel shears with a slottedV plate or plate having one or more slots and aprojection; in attaching a knife or cutter tothe reverse side of the opposite arm which has a circular edge; in placing two or more shear blades or cutters on the same `arm f the shears; in passing the circularedged knife or cutter into a corresponding slot in the projection of the plate on the opposite arm; in providing a spring between the handles of the arms so asto make the operation of the instrument nearly instantaneous; in providing the handles with a guard or set-screw so as to reg ulate the depth of the entrance of the shear blades into the plate, and thereby regulate the width of the eut; in attaching a lubricating depository or cap to one of the handles; in providing the shear-blades with slots and the arm with a set-screw so as to make the shearblades adjustable and removable; in providing an extra cutter or die changeabf in form for marking purposes, and in the Iser` ral com-` binations hereinafter claimed.

To enable other skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed t0 de scribe its construction and operation.

The handles A and B,witl1 their arms, are -made of malleable cast-iron or other suitable material, and are about one foot in length. When I attach la lubricating depository to the bevel, I make one of them a little longer. lhey are crossed at about one-third the distance from the shear end.` At or near the end of the arm B, I attach a plate, F, facing the opposite arm. lhis plate is circular and about two inches in diameter. The form, however, is not material. For the'convenience of description I use the terms upper and lower relative to the position shown at` Fig. 1, as 'there is in regard to the instrument no proper upper or lower sides. At the lower side ofthe plate F, I attach a projection, G, which projection presents a concave face to the opposite arm, and` is provided with aslot, e, tted to the form of the blade or cutter H. That portion be removed and still' preserve a shear cut and operatefwell butI prefer a slot. Above this projection I insert another slot, c, in the plate E, circular in form and iitted to the form of .the blade "I, which Ais attached to the upper side of the arm A. Above the slot c, I'insert another'fslot, d, near the center of the plate, which is iitted to the form of the blade or cutter J.

The plate F, projection G, and arm B and handle B. are usually made of one piece; but the plate or projection may be made of separate pieces and attached by screws 0r in any other suitable'manner.

'Io the Varm A', I attach a concave blade or cutter, H, at the under side, which cuts into or against the projection G at the I slot e, and theedge is so formed as to give a shear cut, and I use this blade and arrangement for trimming the hoofs of sheep. This blade, as well as the others, is atta-chedby the set-screw c and b, and when not used is removed. On the upper side ot' said arm A', I attach the blade or knife I by sliding it by means of the slot hv under the head a, of the set-screw, and by means of this slot and set-screw I adjust the cut of the blade in a measure. The edge of this blade I make conical in form, so as to give it a shear cut, and as shown, cuts both ways from the point or apex of the blade and cuts against the lower ofthe projection G which-is 'below the slot may edge of the slot c. This blade is also concave in form, and in formin g the edge I bevel the inner side, as shown at Fig. 4, for two pur poses-one vis to prevent cutting while the instrument is heilig placed in position or, when in position, prevent cutting before vthe blade comes to the proper point, the other being to secure a good shear cut. This blade I may be attached tothe arm by other suitable means than the set or thumb screw shown.

I also provide another blade, J, which is attached to the upper side ot' the arm in a similar manner to the blade l, and may be attached in addition to that blade or by removing it. This blade is bent upward and intersects the plate F near its center, and passes through it at the slot d. This blade has also a shear cut by reason ot one side being longer than the other. In the form shown the cut is straight; but it is designed to have this blade vary in form, so that eachperson can have it formed to suit'any ear-mark he may have adopted for marking cattle, sheep, swine, or other animal, as it is designed for marking purposes, and it may have a shear cut, as shown, or a die eut by cutting against the plate F instead of through it, and can be used in connection with'the blades I and `I-I,

or either of them, 01' without them. iet-Ween the handles A and 1, I insert the spring E for l the purpose of loosening the shears as soon as the operation is pertorn'ied, so as to pre- `vent tearing or mangling the tlesh.

ter of convenience rather than of necessity, as it is necessary to oil the blades after use in order to preserve them, but not necessary, of course, that oil should be carried in the shears.

When this instrument is complete, it forms a very useful implement, and one which will be found exceedingly satisfactory in its operation.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. The adjustable blade I, when provided with a conical-shapedl edge so as to give it a shear cut. Y

2- The slot h in the back of the blades I and J, in combination with the screwy b.

3. The combination of the conica-l -edged blade I, handles A- and B, with the set-screw or guard D, to regulate-thel width and depth of' the incision. y 1

4. The plate F, provided with the projection G and slots c, d, or e.'

The concave blade H, in combination with the projection G.

G. Placing two or more shear-blades on a single arm of a pair of shears.

'7. ln combination with the cutting devices hereinbei'ore described, the adjustable blade or die J, in the manner and for the purpose set forth. f

S. The lubricatingdepository or eu p C, when attached to the handle or arm of a pair of shears. 9. The combination of the slotted plate l?, blades I or 1I, spring E, and gua-rd D with the handles A and B.

SILAS D. BALDWIN. 

